Jena Malone has starred in a wide array of acclaimed films, from Donnie Darko nearly 25 years ago to last year’s Rebel Moon, and the list will go on — especially with Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 now in theaters. Sure, the reviews are mixed (we should obviously wait for the full story to be released), but there’s star power galore across this sprawling three-hour epic. And we’re not just talking about the man in charge. Kevin Costner’s passion project enlists the excellent Malone as a mother and wife in distress named Ellen. With a haunted past, Ellen’s scenes in Chapter 1 are some of the most impactful of the entire film, adding elements of humor, twists, anger, and heart.

We recently caught up with Malone to learn more about the creative process behind Horizon, how Costner as a director compares to the number of other acclaimed filmmakers she’s worked with, and what Zack Snyder sees in her that’s led to a fruitful series of films together.

Jena Malone Is ‘A Wild Woman’ in Horizon
Horizon Horizon centers around fictional characters and takes place in pre- and post-Civil War America, and details the exploration of the American West. Depicting a twelve-year span, the movies feature an ensemble cast portraying various characters and their experiences pioneering into new territory from their homes.Release Date June 28, 2024 Runtime 3h 1m Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , New Line Cinema , Territory Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Expand

Horizon has its fair share of cowboy characters covering pensive monologues and sprawling horseback-riding sequences. But then Malone arrives on-screen, opposite her comically dimwitted husband (played by Michael Angarano), and the tone of the film shifts to feisty thrills. “She’s a wild woman I haven’t seen in a while, you know, even in modern times,” Malone told MovieWeb about her juicy and ultimately mysterious character. She added:

For me, it’s like such a transformative way to see a woman… Kevin [Costner] really dials in this mother-wife character… it just feels very domestic and simple, but as the layers unravel, you realize the complexities and the survival mechanisms that are in operation.

Related: Horizon Stars Luke Wilson, Isabelle Fuhrman & Ella Hunt Talk ‘Rising Up’ to Kevin Costner’s Passion

Malone’s storyline as Ellen exemplifies how Costner’s tale features a unique spread of characters, especially for a Western film. “It felt like I was able to differentiate between the men and the women and the times and the stories and what each one was going through, which I think is a really hard thing to do,” said Malone in thinking about the script. “But definitely, I felt that she was different. I mean, just allowing a female vigilante to emerge in a Western, under the guise of domestic bliss, it’s a gorgeous way to introduce a female vigilante.”

On the Directors Malone Has Worked With: ‘Kevin [Costner] Is Sort of Like a Miracle’

In addition to Costner, Malone has worked with plenty of other acclaimed filmmakers: Tom Ford, Nicolas Winding Refn, Paul Thomas Anderson, Oren Moverman, Richard Kelly, and more. “Every director I’ve worked with, they operate so differently, you know, and neither is better or worse,” Malone told us. Though she added:

“But definitely, my enjoyment level was one of the highest [on
Horizon
], and not just for the crew and the cast.
I’ve never seen a director enjoy himself more or have more fun. And Kevin is sort of like a miracle,
where he becomes this child, this ever-wondrous half-smile on his face constantly. There’s this pep in his step. He’s got an energy level that is unmatched, but just with ease and grace. I mean, I just feel like they just don’t make humans like that anymore.”

Related: Kevin Costner Dishes on Not ‘Spoon-Feeding People’ Who See Horizon: An American Saga

“They know when they walk into the room, everyone already looks towards them, and so they can’t help but — it’s just mirror work, and they’re just casting the light back at you,” continued Malone in detailing the work ethic of fan-favorite directors like Costner. “I mean, really thrilling, and it’s very healing in some ways, you know, because I’ve definitely worked with some humans that, it’s the opposite of mirroring. It’s the opposite of casting light back to you. It’s rather like throwing a wet rag over your life, like trying to wrestle you down to the ground and tie you up.”

And it just felt like I was one of [Kevin Costner’s] kids… These characters were like his children, and I felt very well taken care of.

7:04 Related Danny Huston Discusses Viggo Mortensen and Kevin Costner’s Western Movies of 2024 Danny Huston spoke to MovieWeb about starring in two big 2024 Westerns, Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt and Kevin Costner’s Horizon.

Malone is currently in the midst of a unique film promotional experience, since only part of Costner’s Horizon vision is currently available to the masses. The second and third installments are still in the works, but it sounds like Malone isn’t exactly being thrown for a loop with this process. “When we were doing Hunger Games, we knew that it was four films, and we had done one and two, and then we were gonna do three and four,” she told us, adding:

So it’s a format that’s happened in my life previously. And then even [the miniseries
Hatfields & McCoys
] became two parts. And, you know,
I just feel like films now, we have so much we want to say
, and so it’s nice to be able to be given that time.

Related Kevin Costner Says ‘Lazy, Dirty’ Westerns Killed Interest in the Genre, but Horizon is Different Kevin Costner says he will avoid the usual pitfalls of modern Westerns with Horizon, with one key focus for the story.

Jena Malone’s Relationship with Zack Snyder and Their Creature Features

Another multi-film project that Malone has been a part of recently includes Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, where she plays a giant spider-like alien called Harmada. That’s not the first time Malone has starred in a Snyder production, having also been cast in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Sucker Punch, and is set to star in his series, Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas. Malone was vocal about Snyder’s vision and how he’s given her great roles. “All Zack’s ever gifted me is the ability to be the coolest mom in the world. Like, he literally is constantly giving me ‘cool points’ with my son,” laughed Malone, who added:

“I’ve been at this for a very long time, and no one’s been like, ‘Oh, Jena Malone’s a creature actor.’ Like, no one has ever presented me that opportunity… It was like, no one had previously been like, ‘Oh, you’re a badass, kick-ass kind of character.’ But he saw that in me, and it’s such a gift to be able to see how the director sees something in you that you can’t see in yourself. And I feel like that’s always been my relationship working with Zack.
I just trust that he sees something that I may not see, and that I know it’s gonna be even cooler than I could ever imagine
.”

The same could be said of the next epic installments of Horizon. From Warner Bros. Pictures, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is now playing in theaters.